Ernest "Ernie" Welsh

Ernest Welsh, “Ernie” to those who knew him, was a good leader, a loving husband, and a dedicated father; he had a good sense of humor, and it was always a pleasure to be in his company.

Ernie was born on August 1, 1910 in Michigan City, Indiana, the third born of eleven children to Charles and Effie Welsh. In the early twentieth century, America was a smaller, quieter place: automobiles were still a rarity, television was still in the distant future, and families spent a lot more time together, at meals, the cinema, and simply around the house. Family was always very important to Ernie. With ten siblings, the house was always alive with young people and family activity. For the first ten years of Ernie's life, his family remained in Michigan City, where he was born, yet in June of 1920, his father decided to relocate to Niles, Michigan. Ernie attended Niles High School, from where he graduated in 1928, and this school provided Ernie with the opportunity to cultivate his athletic talents. From a young age, Ernie was always very skilled with athletics; at high school, his skills gained direction through gymnastics, and he was ranked second in the entire state of Michigan. Later, he was also a remarkable softball player. He had a very fast pitch, and there were not too many batters who could successfully swing at his pitches. Once, on the very same day that Ernie had thirteen teeth pulled, he also pitched a softball game—and what's incredible, he pitched a winning softball game! Later in his life, he also bowled in several leagues and played golf. In fact, it was one his personal goals to be the Arnie Palmer of the States Golf Course.

Throughout high school, Ernie worked for Dean's Drug Store in Niles. He made a decent amount of money, but he never kept it all for himself. Ernie was a generous friend and brother, and he would always slip a dime into his younger brother Bill's shoe to help him out. After high school, Ernie found work with the rail road company, but the Great Depression hit and Ernie, like many Americans, was laid off. In 1930, he went to work at the muck farms in Niles, a job which provided ten dollars a week and room and board. He was always a very hard worker, and during the Great Depression, this was something you had to be—if you didn't do the job correctly, there were ten other people lined up promising that they could. In October of this same year one of Ernie's friends broke his leg. This friend was employed with the A&P, and when it was clear that he couldn't continue with his job, he recommended Ernie for his position. Ernie took the job, and his job status with the A&P quickly advanced as manager of the produce department. When he was only 23, Ernie moved to Lawton as store manager of the A&P located there. He made a good amount of money, and in 1939, he decided to make an investment by purchasing Lawton Standard Oil. Yet the Second World War was on the near horizon, and this challenged Ernie's commitment to his gas station. During the war, in 1941, he was temporarily appointed as a sub-mail carrier. He found that he liked the job, and in 1942, he became a full time mail carrier while still continuing to sell Standard Oil. He continued his work with the Federal Post Office until 1972, when he retired and elected to be a rural mail carrier in Gobles.

Around the time that Ernie was working on muck farms or with the rail road company, he became romantically involved with the love of his life, Mildred K. Smith, “Mid” to friends and to Ernie. They had met much earlier, in elementary school while he still lived in Michigan City; he literally dunked her pig tails into the ink well at their school. Mid's family moved to Niles shortly after Ernie's family moved there, and so Ernie and Mid also knew each other through their young adulthood. They married on May 30, 1930 in Niles, Michigan, one of the happiest days in both of their lives. Together they had three children, all boys: Gene, Jack, and Terry. Ernie was a good father, and he liked to have fun with his kids. When it snowed, he'd fasten a few sleds to the back of his car and drag his kids around the neighborhood—and he'd swerve to make the sleds zig-zag. Sometimes the kids would fall off and scatter, but it was always great fun!

Ernie spent most of his adult life active in Masonry as Master of the Lawton Blue Lodge, High Priest of the Paw Paw Chapter, T.I.M. of Kalamazoo Council, Commander of Three Rivers Commandry, and Worthy Patron of Lawton Eastern Star. He became the head of two State bodies as the Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons and the Illustrious Grand Master of the Council. He was a member of the Knights of the York Cross of Honor and received the York Rite Purple Cross of Honor. He was also a member of the Battle Creek Shrine. Ernie was active in Lawton and served on the village council and school board—both community and education were very important to him. He was past Chief of the Lawton Fire Dept. and remained active there for many years.

Ernie always loved to read, and his novel of choice was a Western, especially the ones written by either Zane Gray or Louie Lamore. Perhaps his favorite hobby was hunting, and as with softball, bowling, golf, and gymnastics, he demonstrated a natural talent at hunting. He was an avid deer hunter, and he kept a cabin in Ontanogon for many years, a place which is great for hunting. He always obeyed all laws regarding hunting, but his success was so immense that those unfamiliar with the integrity of Ernie's character might wonder. When Ernie was an adult, his brother Bill, the one who Ernie always gave dimes to, decided to pay Ernie back for the favor. Bill took them both elk hunting in the Grand Tetons. It was a great time, and a nice opportunity for Ernie to bond with his brother. Ernie worked very hard to pass his hunting skills onto his sons, but he failed miserably: none of them ever came close to attaining the success that Ernie had, but all enjoyed the opportunity to spend time together and bond.

Ernie passed away on April 29, 2004 at Rose Arbor Hospice. He was preceded in death by ten brothers and sisters: Claude, Claire, Doris, Alice, Helen, Roger, Bill and Virginia. Along with his wife, Mid, he is survived by a sister, Ruth (Don) Chapman of Niles; three sons: Gene (Judy) of Gobles, Jack (Sharon) of Kalamazoo, and Terry of Gobles; three grandchildren: Michael, Patrick and Lori; five great-grandchildren: Ashley, Atalanta, Caleb, Chloe, and Tristan.

To share in Ernie’s life story and view his life story film, friends may visit with his family Monday from 10:00-11:00 AM at Betzler & Thompson Life Story Funeral Homes, M-40 South of I-94, Paw Paw, 657-3870. The essence of Ernie’s life will be celebrated at his Life Story Funeral on Monday 11:00 AM at the funeral home, Rev. Philip Steele, OSL of the Milwood United Methodist Church officiating. Masonic services will be held that morning. Following the service, food and fellowship will be shared at the Paw Paw Elks Lodge. Interment Kendall Cemetery. To read Ernie’s complete life story, archive a favorite memory of him, send flowers or make a memorial contribution to Rose Arbor Hospice, please visit his personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com.